What is The Taos Institute Commons?

For almost 30 years, the Taos Institute has fostered relationships between scholars, practitioners, students, and change agents from around the world through conferences, courses, workshops, and the sharing of resources in many forms. 

The Taos Institute Commons is an online community that makes it easier to meet and engage with others from across the globe, who are interested in social constructionist, relational, and appreciative theory and practices. It is also a convenient platform to find Taos Institute events, announcements, and resources—all in one place!

From the beginning, my experience with the Taos Institute has always been of generosity, sharing, common enrichment, connection, and mutual learning. There is no judgment, no rigid expectations, but a willingness to grow together. I am grateful for the wonderful opportunities it has given me to participate in this great global community. — Maria del Pilar Grazioso, Guatemala

What you will find here

• Ongoing conversations through discussion posts and private messaging
• A rich resource library including 100+ free electronic books
• Member profiles with location, interests and contact information
• Taos Institute events, including registration and access links
• Courses and Workshops
• Announcements and community updates

And most importantly...

• A rich exchange of ideas, knowledge, and practices

• A place to learn, play, and challenge one another 

• A global community shaped by a multiplicity of voices

• A welcoming sense  of connection and belonging

The consistent caliber of research, learning and sharing from the Taos Institute ensures my work stays on the leading edge of social constructionism and Appreciative Inquiry. I’m grateful for all you do to make this world a better place! — Tanya Cruz Teller, South Africa

About the Taos Institute

The Taos Institute’s® mission is to bring together scholars and practitioners concerned with the social processes essential for the construction of reason, knowledge, and human value, and their application in relational, collaborative and appreciative practices around the world. 

Constructionist theory and practice locates the source of meaning, value and action in the relational connection among people. It is through relational processes that we create the world in which we most want to live and work.

Social constructionist dialogue—of particular significance within the social sciences and humanities—concerns the processes by which humans generate meaning together.

Our focus is on how social groups and the relational practices within those groups create and sustain beliefs in the real, the rational, and the good.

We recognize that as people create meaning together, so do they sow the seeds of action. Meaning and action are entwined.

As we generate meaning together we create the future.

A Statement from the Board of Directors

In the context of a world in peril—uncontrollable lawlessness, oppression, war, genocide—this is to reassert our commitment to fostering dialogue, collaboration, and collective wellbeing throughout the world. Human suffering transcends all borders, and as social beings, what we do together matters. The world’s future is not in the hands of the few but in all our hands—beginning with our everyday responsiveness to each other. Together we may weave a social fabric that supports all, not just a few. We stand united with all who wish to reimagine and recreate—for the welfare of all.

An Invitation from Ken Gergen

Corona virus, interspersed storms and draughts, political turmoil, sprouting online economies, malware attacks from nowhere…. By all indications we are entering a new age of human history, one in which rapid and unpredictable change will become a daily challenge. What resources are required for living viably in a world of turbulence? In my view, a major shift is needed in our longstanding traditions of understanding. In particular, I believe it essential that we shift from what I will call a structured to a fluid orientation to our endeavors. The quest for symphonic perfection gives way to jazz improvisation. We move from established rules and principles to the flow of dialogue. The borders once established to ensure identity and permanence are opened to collaboration, cross fertilization, and transformation. Downstream efforts to understand events or patterns now past, are eclipsed by active efforts to build the kind of futures in which we—altogether—may live viably.

What better place to enact this vision than in a collaborative space that crosses all borders, beliefs, languages, and time zones?

Taos is a hope for the world! Its message, that we are interdependent, is what we need right now. — Rituu Nanda, India

Join The Taos Institute Commons 

Join the Taos Institute Commons to explore ideas, share practices, and help create promising futures—one conversation at a time.